St-Martin (Malesherbes)
The Catholic parish church of Saint-Martin in Malesherbes , a former commune in the Loiret department in the French region of Center-Val de Loire dates back to the late 12th or early 13th century in its oldest parts. A grave slab carved with reclining figures from the 13th century and an entombment group from around 1500 are kept in the church. In 1926, the church was added to the list of architectural monuments in France as a Monument historique .
history
A parish already existed in the 9th century. It is mentioned in the copy book of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Julien in Tours in connection with the confirmation of a donation in 886 by Charles the Fat . The place was originally called Soisy and subordinate to the Cathedral Chapter of the Cathedral of Tours . In 1226 Soisy came into the possession of the Lords of Bois-Malesherbes and from then until the French Revolution it was called Soisy-Le Bois-Malesherbes.
After the devastation of the Hundred Years War , almost all of the church had to be rebuilt. The Marienkapelle and the sacristy were added to the south side . In 1540 the church was consecrated with the patronage of St. Martin . During the wars of religion , the church suffered major damage again from 1563 to 1589.
The church was still surrounded by the cemetery until 1757. It had to be relocated when the then landlord Guillaume de Lamoignon de Blancmesnil, Chancellor of France and father of Chrétien-Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes (1683–1772), had the south aisle expanded. Between 1867 and 1870, larger windows were broken through and lead glass windows were installed.
architecture
Exterior construction
The central nave , the north aisle and the square basement of the bell tower originate from the first construction phase . The outer walls of the church are divided into massive buttresses. Traces of the Romanesque window openings can still be seen on three sides of the base of the tower . The unplastered, octagonal structure was renewed in the 19th century. It is crowned by a pointed helmet, under which a cornice with carved corbels runs.
inner space
The three-aisled nave is covered by a ribbed vault. In the east it flows into a just closed choir . The ogival central nave arcades rest alternately on columns and pillars with pillars. The columns are like the pilasters on which the transverse arches , with leaves and buds of the aisles bear capitals decorated. The gallery in the west was built in the 19th century.
Central nave
Central and north aisles
Column with bud capital
Leaded glass window
The lead glass window in the choir depicts the patron saint of the church, St. Martin . In the north aisle, the church father and monastery founder, St. Augustine , is depicted. The window in the south aisle with the representation of the Holy Family bears the signature "GIOT-LOBIN PARIS & TOURS".
Saint Martin
Saint Augustine
Holy Family
Grave slab from the 13th century
A grave slab from the 13th century is kept in the north aisle. It comes from the parish church of Trézan, which was demolished in 1821, a hamlet that today belongs to Malesherbes. Two brothers are depicted on the tombstone, the knight Guy de Corbeil, also called Guy du Donjon († 1227), landlord of Trézan, and the archbishop of Bourges , Guillaume (Wilhelm) († 1209), who was canonized in 1218. They are shown as reclining figures and are framed by an arcade with a three-pass arch. Knights and bishops represent secular and spiritual power. The inscription, which is carved on the edge of the grave slab, reflects the dialogue between the two. The knight says: “Follow me, I will protect you with my sword.” The bishop replies: “What do you fear? You will go to heaven with me. "
Entombment group
The burial group in the south aisle was commissioned in 1495 by Louis Malet de Graville for the chapel of the Malesherbes castle. In the 1720s, the group of sculptures was placed in the chapel of the former Franciscan monastery in Malesherbes, and it was not until the 1930s that it came to the parish church of Saint-Martin. It was restored in 1963. The burial group consists of seven people. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus hold the sheet with which they place the dead body of Jesus in the open grave. Mary , holding the hand of Jesus, is supported by the apostle John . Mary Magdalene and another woman, who wipes the tears from her eyes with her veil, hold ointment vessels in their hands, a woman holds the crown of thorns.
Entombment group
Joseph of Arimathea, Mary Magdalene, John and Mary
Nicodemus and two women
Further equipment
- The baptismal font is dated to the first quarter of the 14th century. The relief of a head is carved over the spout. A capital from the 13th century serves as the base .
- A crucifix from the 15th century hangs over the altar .
- The wood-carved priest's chair from the 17th century is decorated with the coat of arms of Pope Innocent X (1574–1655).
- The carved figure of St. Sebastian dates from the 16th century.
literature
- Center. Châteaux de la Loire . Hachette, Guides Bleus, Paris 1992, ISBN 2-01-015564-5 , p. 572.
- Leaflet Église Saint Martin de Malesherbes .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Église Saint-Martin in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
- ↑ Grave slab in the Base Palissy of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
- ↑ Entombment group in the Base Palissy of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
- ↑ Baptismal font in the Base Palissy of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
- ↑ Cathedra in the Base Palissy of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
Coordinates: 48 ° 17 '35.2 " N , 2 ° 25' 3.7" E